Beyond “normal”, embrace differences and excel in every way!

08 Dec Beyond “normal”, embrace differences and excel in every way!

As a developmental pediatrician, one of the most common questions I hear from parents is: “Will my child become normal?”

This question often sparks flood of thoughts in my mind; questions which am eager to explore and find meaningful answers to.

1) What if parents understood that aspiring for “normal” may not be the best goal for our children, especially those who are neurodivergent?
2) What if, instead of striving for “normal,” we focused on nurturing our children’s unique abilities?
3) What if we let go of the narrow definitions of success and embrace the possibility that every child has their own extraordinary potential, regardless of how they are compared to others?

Imagine asking a fish to climb a tree.
It would never succeed because its strengths lie in the water, not on the land and when we stop expecting them to climb trees, we create space for them to flourish in their own strengths.

Each child is an individual, not a product to be moulded into a pre-defined shape.
Children come with different hidden talents, skills, and strengths that, with the right love, care, and nurturing, can flourish in their own unique ways.

We need to stop defining our children by a narrow, conventional standard and instead, ask, how can I help my child reach their fullest potential?

I know that all these questions can’t be answered all at once, but the solution is in empowering them, not to become like others, but to become the best version of themselves.

Let’s work together to create a world where every child is valued for who they are. 👏 🙌